Letter

Energy rethink

The competition to find new pylon designs that has been launched by the National Grid and the energy secretary, Chris Huhne, is very welcome, but we must not let it detract from the real issues facing the nation's landscapes (Wanted: bright sparks to give 84-year-old electricity pylon a 21st-century makeover, 23 May). Surely the growing concern about the landscape impact of connecting new generations of nuclear and renewable energy power stations should lead to a more fundamental look at the strategy for generating the energy that we need and using it more wisely? With several national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty in the firing line for new pylon connections, updated designs are unlikely to address public concern about landscape impact – but a rethinking of the location of electricity generation and a more joined-up approach to generation and transmission would be a good start.